Network Topologies

Network topology is a topological structure of computer network, which can be physical or logical. The physical topology depicts location of different computer network elements such as computers, cables and other devices. The logical topology visually displays network dataflows from one device to another. Sometimes network logical and physical topologies can be the same. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software is powerful for drawing network maps and network topologies diagrams of any kinds and complexity thanks to the Computer Network Diagrams solution from the Computer and Networks area. ConceptDraw STORE proposes collection of network icons libraries and a lot of Network Topology Diagram examples, samples and templates which were created at ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software specially for Computer Network Diagrams solution. There are six basic types of the network topologies: Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, Tree, Fully Connected. You can fast and easy design professional-looking diagram for each of them using the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM tools. There are plenty of web Visio-like diagramming software available. Web based diagrams software can be powerful, but sometimes it is essential to have desktop software. One of the most advanced diagrams tools like Visio for Mac OS is ConceptDraw DIAGRAM app.

Ring Network Topology

The Ring Network Topology Diagram examples was created using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software with Computer and Networks solution.

Bus Network Topology

Bus Network Topology is a network topology that represents one shared cable (called a bus or backbone) to which are directly connected all workstations or computers of the network. At the ends of the cable are situated the terminators for prevention the signal reflection. All workstations at Bus Network Topology have equal rights and transfer the information sequentially, one after another. The message sent by one of workstations is extended on all computers of the network and each computer checks to whom it is addressed, if for him, then processes it. Addition of new subscribers to the "bus" is quite simple, the failures of individual computers are not dangerous, and the lack of a central subscriber even more increases its reliability. Computer and Networks solution included to Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers templates, samples and numerous vector stencils libraries that can be used to effectively design different physical and logical network topologies diagrams for wireless and wired computer networks, including Bus Network Topology.

Daisy Chain Network Topology

This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the Computer and Networks solution from Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. A Daisy Chain is the simple computer network. It is the easiest way to add more Ethernet devices into the network. In the Daisy Chain network one computer is connected to the next without any intervening devices, thus the message is sent from one computer to the next and then to the next and so on. A Daisy Chain can be linear or ring

Virtual private networks (VPN). Computer and Network Examples

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network that allows the private networks at a remote location securely connect to the public Internet and provide access only to the intended recipients for transmitting data. VPN is built by creating the virtual point-to-point connection using the dedicated connections, traffic encryption or virtual tunneling protocols. This example was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM using the Computer and Networks Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park and shows the Virtual Private Network (VPN) diagram.

Fully Connected Network Topology Diagram

Fully Connected Network Topology (Complete topology, Full mesh topology) is a network topology characterized by existence of direct links between all pairs of nodes. The Fully connected network including n nodes, contains n(n-1)/2 direct links. This topology is mostly used in military applications. It is a quite expensive network technology and is extremely impractical for the large networks. But when it is set, it provides a high degree of reliability thanks to the large quantity of redundant links between nodes and so multiplicity of paths for the data. The two-node network is also considered as a Fully connected network. Computer Network Diagrams solution from Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park offers the predesigned vector stencils libraries, examples and templates for easy designing various Computer network topology diagrams for wired and wireless networks, including the Fully connected topology. This solution is intended to help computer network designers and engineers perfectly illustrate network documentation, reports, presentations, etc.

Tree Network Topology Diagram

A Tree network topology (Hierarchical topology) is a hybrid network topology that contains the combination of two or more star networks connected via bus networks. Each star network is a LAN (local area network) with central computer or server and workstation nodes connected to it. The central computers of star networks are connected to a main cable that is called a bus. Each node of the Tree network can have an arbitrary number of child nodes, you can easy add/remove the separate workstations and even the whole star networks, the failure of one workstation will not affect the work of others. This topology is ideal solution when workstations are located in groups within a small physical region, rarely is used in WAN configurations. Computer and Networks solution from Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park contains templates, samples and numerous libraries of predesigned vector stencils of computer network devices and equipment, which can be effectively used for designing various network topologies diagrams, including Tree Network Topology.

Mesh Network. Computer and Network Examples

A Mesh Topology is a computer network topology that is based on the cells concept, in which each workstation connects with several other workstations of the same network with the possible to accept the switch functions for other workstations. This example was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM using the Computer and Networks solution from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park and shows the Mesh Network.

Star Network Topology

Star is a basic computer network topology in which all nodes (computers and peripheral devices) of the network are connected to the central hub or switch with a point-to-point connection, forming a physical network segment. Such network segment can function separately or as a part of complex network topology. The switch is a server, the peripherals are the clients. The large workload and functions of network management are entrusted on the central computer, all information exchange goes through it, so it must to be obligatory the most powerful. The star network topology is a simple topology for design and implementation. Its advantages are high performance, flexible administration capabilities, simplicity of adding additional nodes and search of faults, the fact that a failure of one workstation doesn't affect the work of entire network. But the failure of central hub will result the failure of whole network or network segment - it's the main disadvantage. Use the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM with Computer and Networks solution to designing Star Network Topology Diagrams fast and easy.

Hybrid Network Topology

A network topology is the topological structure or the arrangement of different elements of computer network. There are several basic types of network topologies, such as star, ring, bus, mesh. But the most popular is a combination of two or more diverse basic network topologies, which is known as hybrid network topology. The examples of hybrid topology are: star-bus, star-ring topologies, etc. Each resulting hybrid topology has its own features, advantages and limitations of its components. Hybrid network topologies are more flexible, reliable, and have increased fault tolerance, the faults in them can be easily diagnosed and corrected, new nodes can be easily added. But at the same time hybrid topologies often are sufficiently expensive and difficult for managing. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software supplied with the tools of Computer Network Diagrams solution from Computer and Networks area is perfect for schematic description various types of computer network topologies and easy designing Hybrid network topology diagrams.